This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Officials found a vacant boat floating in Great Salt Lake on Wednesday with a terse and unexplained note on board: "swam to the island."

The sailboat, anchored about three miles north of Bridger Bay of Antelope Island, was spotted about 5:30 p.m., said Utah State Parks spokesman Eugene Swalberg.

Investigators checked the boat's registration in hopes of contacting the owner for a welfare check, but the name signed on the note did not match the name on the registration, said Utah State Parks Lt. Eric Stucki. The boat, he said, was registered earlier this year, though it's possible the owner sold the watercraft in the past few months.

Officials are trying to solve the mystery and track down the note's author, Stucki said, but they don't suspect any foul play: "We're thinking they're still alive."

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